Jacqueline Bracamontes was born on December 23, 1979 in Guadalajara, Mexico to Jesus Bracamontes, the former coach of the popular Mexican soccer team Chivas Rayadas del Guadalajara, and Jacqueline van-Hoorde, a Mexican of Belgian descent. She is the oldest of three children and has a sister Alina, and a brother, Jesus, Jr. Her father is currently a soccer analyst for the Hispanic-American television network Univision.

After high school, Bracamontes moved to France to study French. She then returned to Mexico, and studied Communication Science at the Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Occidente. While there, she began working as a model. She speaks Spanish, French and English fluently.

After seeing her on a magazine cover, Lupita Jones, ex-Miss Universe, contacted her and asked her to enter the Nuestra Belleza México. Bracamontes went on to win the state and national beauty titles and to represent Mexico in Miss Universe 2001, which took place in Puerto Rico.

After being crowned Miss Mexico in 2000, Bracamontes decided to pursue a television career. She began her career hosting various award shows and special programs, including Acafest, Premios TVyNovelas, and Fiesta Mexicana.

A soccer aficionado, in August 2008 she became host of a Mexican sports radio show on Vision AM, and was later invited by Univision to be a host and correspondent of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. She has also worked with Televisa Deportes.

In 2003, Bracamontes was cast in the Mexican telenovela Alegrijes y Rebujos, produced by Rosy Ocampo. One year later, she landed a role in the popular soap Rubi, alongside Barbara Mori and Eduardo Santamarina.

In 2006, she landed her first lead role in the Mexican novela Heridas de Amor, alongside Brazilian born actor Guy Ecker. The program was broadcast in several countries.

In Spring of 2007, Bracamontes was cast in her first feature film, entitled Cuando Las Cosas Suceden (When Things Happen), playing the role of a nun named Lucia. Later that year, she briefly returned to hosting with the Mexican game show De Por Vida, but the show was quickly cancelled.

In 2008 she starred in the comedic Mexican telenovela Las Tontas No Van al Cielo, alongside Jaime Camil, which was extremely successful in both the Latin American and United States market.

After finishing filming with 'Las Tontas No Van al Cielo, Bracamontes starred in Sortilegio, with Cuban actor William Levy. Filming completed in October 2009. During filming there was much speculation by the Mexican media that Jacqueline and her co-star William Levy, were also a real life couple though the pair denied the rumors.